Often clients will ask me whether their LinkedIn photos look Okay. My advice often goes like this: “Well, yes, your photo is Okaaay. But it could be better, and you might fare much better convincing a prospective employer to offer you an interview.”
Here are some tips:
Not much has been written about this, but the Wall Street Journal recently did so:
Their subhead summed it up: “Most LinkedIn pictures miss the mark”. “If your headshot is ho-hum,” the Journal says,” you are wasting an opportunity to make a memorable first impression”.
You might say to yourself :
“Whoa. Wait a minute. I’m average looking. I can’t make myself into Taylor Swift just to get a job. What about all those average-looking people out there — they got jobs, didn’t they?”
One of the Journal‘s experts recommends starting by figuring out what you want to convey: What’s your personal brand?
That’s worth thinking about, but may seem a little obscure. My advice to most clients is straightforward: “Don’t bother with handsome or beautiful. Choose a shot that makes you look EEG: Energetic, Easy to work with, and Got it together.
Other tips from the Journal:
- Choose a plain and light background. (Myself, I think an office background, or a landscape can work too, depending on what job you’re going for).
- Keep jewelry small and simple
- Most guys should feel free to skip a tie, which can be read as unapproachable . (I’d say “Not necessarily. A lawyer should wear a tie, for example. I’d advise looking at some photos of people in the type of jobs you want, and dress at the more formal end of the range you see.)
- Bag the Botox or AI filters (My view: It depends on how good the AI filter is. Why not filter, if you are applying for a job like a model?)
Photo Options:
It’s fine to take your own headshot, says the Journal. (I’d add: or get a friend to take some shots. Or look through your existing photos and see if one can be cropped. But if you can’t find or take a good one, or it’s a really high level job, spend money on a photographer.)
The Journal suggests taking lots of shots, with and without teeth showing. And, they warn, if you decide not to smile, you risk looking mean. (Well, yes. But I’d add that you might also look brainy, strong, or powerful. What’s your brand and what do you think the employer might prize for this job? )
Please post!
For sure, unless you are afraid to use a photo for security reasons, do post one. Realize that most employers check out LinkedIn before they hire. You may be passed over if you seem like you can’t be bothered to post a photo, or are hiding something.
A caution:
Be on the lookout for stories about widespread uses of images on AI by people creating fake personas using public photos. It’s happened to Taylor Swift, for example. My advice to post your photo could change if this becomes common practice.